The impact of Medicaid expansion on Mississippi

Medicaid expansion has been at the forefront of the race for governor this year. If enacted, what could we expect to see in terms of enrollment and costs? How would it impact access to care, health care outcomes and rural hospitals? Let’s dive in. Medicaid is a government-run welfare program that provides taxpayer-funded financial aid to people who cannot afford their own health care. Over 837,000 Mississippians currently receive some form of Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid. The program presently carries a state and federal price tag of over $7.2 billion a year.